Post: #1

I know a few adult guys who can't cook shit. Eat out every time they aren't eating at someone's else house.

RVFers who can't cook - why? Can't get the cash together to buy the equipment? Haven't had someone to teach you? Haven't made the time? Cooking is such a tool in the game I'm curious why guys around here might not have taught themselves.

Post: #2

I have plenty of time and no problems affording standard cooking - I just don't like it. And I particularly don't like the cleaning of multiple pots, pans and assorted utensils afterwards (I also can't stand a messy kitchen however, so I always clean dish(es) and anything else right after eating).

I've been living alone for most of the years since I moved out on my own at 18, 21 years ago. The first couple of years I experimented a bit with slightly more advanced cooking than scrambled eggs and toasted bread, but I realized what I just said above, and my feelings on that haven't changed at all.

A typical day of eating for me looks like below (assuming a day where I don't go out to eat, which I rarely do more than a couple of times a week at most when I'm not on vacation).
I'm also aiming to cut down on bread and cheese (I love fresh bread and a good cheese) this year.
I'm at the supermarket pretty much every single day as I want some things fresh. That includes bread and various things I buy from the butcher and deli departments.
I use a microwave oven to heat premade or precooked food from the deli.

Breakfast: 2-3 hard boiled or scrambled eggs with bacon, ham or veal fillet from the supermarket butcher. I'm trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet (a typical salad tastes a bit like cardboard to me, but some fried vegetables are pretty good when mixed with meat etc.) so the scrambled eggs might be mixed with red pepper, mushrooms, onion, tomato.

Lunch: Fresh dark bread (sometimes light ciabatta bread instead) from the baker. Coupled with cheese and some meat, could be one of the above mentioned, or it could be the local Bulgarian meatballs, кюфтета.

Snack: Chocolate... I mean apples, pears, bananas and kiwi. 3-4 times per week some fresh orange/carrot juice, which they make at the supermarket since I don't like the cleaning job involved in using the nice juicer I bought a year ago.

Dinner: Chicken breast or fish. I'm sadly missing beef here in Bulgaria, as it's more of a pork and chicken eating nation, so the beef selection is usually scarce in supermarkets and I mostly have it when I go out to eat.
If I'm having chicken I might add a eg. a deli mix consisting of some fried vegetables with sauce and additional chicken slices.

As far as using cooking for game I'm sure it can be an excellent tactic. Since I don't really work against my own instincts I make do without it, and if cooking absolutely has to be involved I make a girl I've been seeing for a little while cook for me instead. A good test to see if she's LTR material anyway, since she will most certainly have to be the one responsible for most of that in a serious relationship (I will probably still feel perfectly capable of making my own lunch sandwich, or peel my snack banana).

Post: #3

I wrote about this in another, unrelated, thread.

Quote:PapayaTapper Wrote:
In the US the two largest "home improvement" stores are Home Depot and Lowes. Carl Buchanan the founder of Lowes in 1946 identified a trend and coined the term " buy-it yourselfer" in the 1960's He essentially predicted that as life got easier in the West self sufficiency would go down and the market for paid services would go up. Obviously he was right. I'm often very surprised how little a lot of my friends are able to do for themselves before they have to call someone to pay and do it for them

I agree that learning to cook can be a great addition to your game arsenal. If I get to date three and have not banged a girl I almost always invite her over for one of my "PT's special home cooked meals" She sits on a bar-stool at my kitchen island drinking a glass of wine (on an empty stomach ) while we chat and I finish up cooking. Second glass with the meal, 3rd on the sofa,.. make out, bang, rinse, repeat.

I recommend at least learning to cook a couple of "go to" meals. Displaying competencies such as cooking can be a great asset.

Post: #4

(01-02-2016 04:42 PM)BadgerHut Wrote:  I know a few adult guys who can't cook shit. Eat out every time they aren't eating at someone's else house.

RVFers who can't cook - why? Can't get the cash together to buy the equipment? Haven't had someone to teach you? Haven't made the time? Cooking is such a tool in the game I'm curious why guys around here might not have taught themselves.

I can understand younger guys (or those who have never cooked before) being a bit put off by the time and money it takes to go from learning to boil water, to flipping perfect omelets and finishing off a ribeye in a nice cast iron skillet.

But even for folks with zero experience or money, there's no excuse for eating out all the time, particularly fast food junk. It's easier than ever to eat perfectly healthy food that requires little-to-no-cooking AND is easy on your wallet. I'm a half-decent cook myself, but most of the time I go with zero-prep eating just to save time and avoid washing dishes:

-sardines in olive oil, right out of the can

-Canned tuna or salmon (I like to drain the tuna and then top it with some full-fat sour cream)

-Greek yogurt with nuts and/or berries, maybe drizzled in honey with a sprinkle of cinnamon

-Microwaveable chicken sausages, or maybe I'll pick apart a store-bought rotisserie chicken

-Sausage and cheese

-Caprese salad (tomato/basil/mozzarella, maybe some balsamic vinegar and salt/pepper)

-Fresh fruit or berries (frozen berries are a fantastic alternative to ice cream/popsicles)

-Carrot/celery sticks with nut butter

-Beef jerky

-Juiced vegetables (some time/cleanup required, but no real skill involved)

I'll show off my culinary skills for a zero-date bang or when my LTR is staying the night, but most of the time my focus is on cheap, paleo-approved food that won't require much time to make or clean up. And with all the money I save on (almost) never eating out, I can afford to splurge on nicer brands and ingredients for the food I do eat.

Post: #5

Just juice and blend. etc. A plant based diet is optimal for longivety.

Thier will plenty of opportunities to eat a steak now and then

Post: #6

MikeS is on the right track in my book. If you are following a lower carb paleo type diet, all you need is a frying pan and block of butter. Anything will taste delicious. Brocolli fried in butter with sea salt, chilli flakes and black pepper (get an all in one grinder). Fried eggs with lamb chop (the lamb fat makes the eggs taste even better). Omelettes can be made 101 different ways, I often do chilli (add lime juice), usually with tinned fish or roe.

Those of you who are put off by the thought of washing pots and pans- I fully agree. The pan is wipe clean, and unless I'm cooking with company then I use decent (thick) paper plates and plastic forks. The pan cleaning rag and the plate go straight into the fireplace- the only thing that needs washing up is the silicon fish slice. And the knife/board if you're prepping veg or meat. Get a decent knife, you only really need one. Better one decent knife than a chopping block full of shit knives.

Chicks these days can barely cook, or they say the can cook but they mean baking cakes. So it's easy to impress them. Just act really nonchalant as you add a pinch of this, dash of that. I'm not claiming to be Gordon Ramesey, but I can start with pretty much anything it will come out at the very least edible, and usually delicious.

Post: #7

I hate cooking. I hate the effort that goes into it, the prep, and especially the cleaning. It's women's work.

However I love good food. At the moment I am separated from my girl so that means that if I want food I need to cook it myself.

If you don't know how to cook, the easiest advice I can give you is this:

Get high quality meat and produce. In europe, I've found that the quality of grocery store produce is really high and lasts a long time. In America I've found it to be hit or miss. Find the secret meat and produce places that the locals shop at and avoid big chain grocery stores.

Next are good recipes. If you can follow directions you can cook. It's that easy. Food and wine is a good site. When you find a good recipe, copy and save it to your computer. Start creating a long list of recipes that are good. You can save yourself a lot of angst by asking mom and grandma for their recipes.

As of now, I have a lot of recipes given from my grandma and my girlfriend which are stupendous "mom" style cooking recipes passed down for years. I also have a few cook books (Food Porn Daily ,a slow cooker book, and an ethnic cuisine cook book).

As for cleaning, the best trick I have for this is clean as you go. When something is sizzling throw it into the sink and scrub. Constantly be in the motion of cleaning while cooking. Other then that, get a dishwasher. I'm at the point in my life where I only live in apartments with washers/dryers and dishwashers. I hate hand washing dishes. Or delegate it to a lady

An ability to cook food and not be picky is a massive sticking point for me when it comes to women. If a girl is a vegetarian, vegan, or on some other BS diet she's a P&D. Not worth any LTR. Food is very important and one of life's simple pleasures. Food is far more sustaining than a tight vagina ever will be by itself.

Post: #8

(01-03-2016 10:07 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  I hate cooking. I hate the effort that goes into it, the prep, and especially the cleaning. It's women's work.

However I love good food. At the moment I am separated from my girl so that means that if I want food I need to cook it myself.

If you don't know how to cook, the easiest advice I can give you is this:

Get high quality meat and produce. In europe, I've found that the quality of grocery store produce is really high and lasts a long time. In America I've found it to be hit or miss. Find the secret meat and produce places that the locals shop at and avoid big chain grocery stores.

Next are good recipes. If you can follow directions you can cook. It's that easy. Food and wine is a good site. When you find a good recipe, copy and save it to your computer. Start creating a long list of recipes that are good. You can save yourself a lot of angst by asking mom and grandma for their recipes.

As of now, I have a lot of recipes given from my grandma and my girlfriend which are stupendous "mom" style cooking recipes passed down for years. I also have a few cook books (Food Porn Daily ,a slow cooker book, and an ethnic cuisine cook book).

As for cleaning, the best trick I have for this is clean as you go. When something is sizzling throw it into the sink and scrub. Constantly be in the motion of cleaning while cooking. Other then that, get a dishwasher. I'm at the point in my life where I only live in apartments with washers/dryers and dishwashers. I hate hand washing dishes. Or delegate it to a lady

An ability to cook food and not be picky is a massive sticking point for me when it comes to women. If a girl is a vegetarian, vegan, or on some other BS diet she's a P&D. Not worth any LTR. Food is very important and one of life's simple pleasures. Food is far more sustaining than a tight vagina ever will be by itself.

Fucking right. If I hear the words while dating someone: "I can't cook/don't cook/don't like to cook" then that woman is dead to me as an LTR prospect. My need to eat is far more greater than my need to bang.

I have banged and gone out with a handful of women who with have said the aforementioned and I don't really hide how unattractive it is to me. A woman who can't or won't cook is the equivalent of a man who refuses to earn a decent living for his future family. Imagine if you told a woman you wanted kids but you were content with your minimum wage job? They'd look at you like you were retarded. That's how I look at women who can't/won't cook. You want a family/kids one day (most do) and you can't even cook for yourself? I guess I have take-out every night to look forward to if I stay with you, right?

It's kind of amazing when I share my perspective how many women suddenly go into "Holy fuck... I need to learn how to cook like right now!" mode. Of course more often than not, they think because they made a plate of steam veggies and rice they are now super awesome and I should be grateful for the privilege of them cooking me a meal and its my turn to cook for them (and cook something legit; not some bullshit 5 minute thing).

These dumb sluts don't really understand their role or position at all. No way I will EVER consider living with a woman and having kids with her if she doesn't see cooking nice meals regularly as part of her duty. While dating, I just need to see that they can cook and enjoy doing it here and there but don't because they work full-time. I had a woman one time who couldn't cook at the fuck all BUT wanted a family in the near future tell me she expected the man to help with the cooking after coming home from working all day EVEN if she was a full time mom not working. Bitches be fuckin crazy. Lord almighty.

As for main topic:

I can cook but I prefer stuff that requires little/no cooking just for time and convenience reasons. Nothing exciting but it does the job. Eating healthy is easier than ever without much cooking and only requires a slight premium in cost. Also as alluded to, I see cooking nice meals regularly primarily as a woman's duty. If I were to settle down, she/kids would be provided for so I expect nice home cooked meals daily. So, that's partially a bit of reason I don't invest as much time into cooking as well.

Post: #9

(01-03-2016 11:20 AM)The Black Knight Wrote:  These dumb sluts don't really understand their role or position at all. No way I will EVER consider living with a woman and having kids with her if she doesn't see cooking nice meals regularly as part of her duty. While dating, I just need to see that they can cook and enjoy doing it here and there but don't because they work full-time. I had a woman one time who couldn't cook at the fuck all BUT wanted a family in the near future tell me she expected the man to help with the cooking after coming home from working all day EVEN if she was a full time mom not working. Bitches be fuckin crazy. Lord almighty.

What they do understand is their leverage, I think this woman can find a man who will come home and cook for her. As we always say, the thirst is real.

I heard that in China it's become the norm for young men to cook for their girlfriends, there are some incredible betas out there.

Post: #10

(01-03-2016 12:52 PM)Surreyman Wrote:  

(01-03-2016 11:20 AM)The Black Knight Wrote:  These dumb sluts don't really understand their role or position at all. No way I will EVER consider living with a woman and having kids with her if she doesn't see cooking nice meals regularly as part of her duty. While dating, I just need to see that they can cook and enjoy doing it here and there but don't because they work full-time. I had a woman one time who couldn't cook at the fuck all BUT wanted a family in the near future tell me she expected the man to help with the cooking after coming home from working all day EVEN if she was a full time mom not working. Bitches be fuckin crazy. Lord almighty.

What they do understand is their leverage, I think this woman can find a man who will come home and cook for her. As we always say, the thirst is real.

I heard that in China it's become the norm for young men to cook for their girlfriends, there are some incredible betas out there.

Yes and no. I have heard this shit-test before and I'll tell you the same thing I tell women: "Yup, you sure can find a man that cooks/kisses your ass/tolerates your bullshit/etc but it won't be a man you are really attracted to deep down like me."

If more men shared the same mindset and controlled their thirst, a lot of women's behavior would change for the better. There is a reason I picked the forum username I did.

Post: #11

Quote:I had a woman one time who couldn't cook at the fuck all BUT wanted a family in the near future tell me she expected the man to help with the cooking after coming home from working all day EVEN if she was a full time mom not working. Bitches be fuckin crazy. Lord almighty.

The "Lord almighty" had me imagining a sassy older black lady chastising young white sluts. Thanks for the midday belly laugh.

Post: #12

If you're into healthy eating, eating out is probably the worst thing you can do, you don't know what they are putting in the food, the quality of ingredients, most takeout, even those that are seemingly healthy really aren't.

You don't have to be top chef but every guy should learn a few recipes. Also, during warmer months there's really no excuse not to grill and prepare a side of veggies.

I actually enjoy cooking, the cleanup not so much but I like cooking, it saves money and I get to eat healthier.

Post: #13

No restaurants where I live. If I don't cook, I don't eat. No services available, but I can buy a small selection of veggies (cabbage).

The easiest thing is to use a croc pot. It's simple to use, you just set it up and leave it for the rest of the day. Come back to a great meal. I always put a can of tomatoe paste in for flavor. All of my protein I harvest myself. If it walks, flies, or swims, I'll eat it. And I eat everything (heart, liver, kidney, tongue, and anything else that's edible) nothing goes to waste.

Halibut- put in some foil and bake in oven 45 min.
King Salmon- put in some foil and bake in oven 45-60 min depending on thickness.
Beaver- cut into cubes and put in croc pot all day.
Black Bear- Tastes like pork! Will cook it in a cast iron pan and then put in a croc pot. Need to cook long time due to trichinosis.
Rabbit- goes good with a croc pot stew.
Ground squirrel- cook over a fire, tastes like chicken.
Muskrat- similar to beaver. Cook in a stew or bake whole in oven.
Goose- depending on the goose can be tough meat. Cook in cubes on a cast iron pan, or make a soup out of it.
Duck- like to bake it or make a stew or soup.
Moose- love to grind it up with the natural fat. Cook in cast iron pan. Also good in a croc pot.

When I do go places where I can order food I don't really like it. It's all crap. You can't beat the flavor of wild game (once you acquire the taste for it). And then if you do try to eat high quality foods it's really expensive- have you ever seen the price of halibut or king salmon? You cannot afford to eat it every day if you have to pay for it.

Post: #14

(01-03-2016 01:11 PM)The Black Knight Wrote:  Yes and no. I have heard this shit-test before and I'll tell you the same thing I tell women: "Yup, you sure can find a man that cooks/kisses your ass/tolerates your bullshit/etc but it won't be a man you are really attracted to deep down like me."

That is gold, my friend. Drawing attention to the contradiction.

That said, I am a fan of the aphorism "cooking is too important to be left to women." One can establish a good leader-of-the-tribe kind of frame with a good home cooked meal or two, and also set up the expectation that she'll do the same. If she doesn't/can't, well there's your answer.

Post: #15

(01-04-2016 01:16 AM)BadgerHut Wrote:  

(01-03-2016 01:11 PM)The Black Knight Wrote:  Yes and no. I have heard this shit-test before and I'll tell you the same thing I tell women: "Yup, you sure can find a man that cooks/kisses your ass/tolerates your bullshit/etc but it won't be a man you are really attracted to deep down like me."

That is gold, my friend. Drawing attention to the contradiction.

That said, I am a fan of the aphorism "cooking is too important to be left to women." One can establish a good leader-of-the-tribe kind of frame with a good home cooked meal or two, and also set up the expectation that she'll do the same. If she doesn't/can't, well there's your answer.

Some of you guys go way too far with this stuff... I dont disqualify a girl's inability to cook as a LTR prospect but that just me. Because I wholeheartedly agree with the above (great quote by the way BadgerHut) "cooking is too important to be left to women" (as is everything else that has to do with your well-being)

I cook way better than most western girls so I'm fine with doing that, and all the girls I've cooked for are more than willing to do the dishes/clean the kitchen and put everything in order. For me that's a win-win. I LOVE cooking and HATE washing dishes, and not rich enough to hire a maid/buy a dishwasher yet.

For young bachelors like myself I definitely see cooking as essential because it saves money and avoid trash food. However, I know many guys who cook well but prefers to eat out for the same reason: too much hassle. They are usually making 6-figures income and the time they spent cooking would better be spent making money, and they are rich enough to hire a professional cook 3-times a week to cook for them. Others love going to restaurants and game while having dinner. Think Ryan Gosling in Crazy Stupid Love.

It's becoming a trend in Asia too. My mom and sisters are probably the best cooks I know but they all hire a cook now.

It's almost like with feudalism. If you are a noble you are supposed to be a professional warrior, but then most nobles realize it's better to just pay the king to hire people to fight in your stead, but skills of arms always remain valued in society. I think its the same with cooking. Desirable, but if you are rich there are much better options.

Post: #16

Canned food.

Post: #17

Quit cook-shaming me.
I'm so triggered

Post: #18

Here in the USA, cooking skills have a weird class inversion. It used to be people NEEDED cooking skills to survive at all as a household. Then shit got automated, frozen foods, fast food etc, plus the decline of the nuclear family as the prime lifestyle move, and people could get by without being able to cook anything. It's always been a standby joke that lots of bachelor men couldn't cook, but I'm looking at you, single urban career women.

Now, there are damn cooking channels, and upper-middle class people take high-priced classes to learn how to cook high-quality food and spend bajillions on top-notch cooking gear.

Whereas cooking used to be something every family did to get by (some of the best recipes in every culture are prole in nature - BBQ, any kind of stew, etc), now being able to cook is a UMC non-essential skill they can show off.

It's like hipsterism - people who can afford better dressing down and idolizing lo-fi bands while they live in a cheap feral gentrifying neighborhood.

Post: #19

I deal with the labor/cleanup aspect by making a big batch of whatever I'm making. Big pot of soup for example, or enough fish for several meals. You can freeze individual portions or keep leftovers in the fridge for 2-3days.

Post: #20

I live alone and I work out, to get meals that fit my goals for weightlifting I need to learn to cook. Even more I moved out as student so there was no big money by order pizza every day or dine out. And buy cheap stuff from the supermarket, I don't trust it, it get boring over the time and its bad nutrition in general when you want to take care of your body. I have to take care of my body, no women.

Even more a man should be independent. It's always strange for me when the women of a man die or they divorce and the man can to nothing. No laundry, no cleaning, no cooking. Those are grown up men that give all their power to women. Women cook to feed a family but look at the top star cooks? It's mostly men.
So not relay total on a women or bad frozen food when you are single, you should know how to cook. For a women that like to take care of the family and her man its important too. The only possibility that she don't need to cook is when she is Asian and we live in an asian country where its cheaper do dine out. Still then I will demand cooking time by time to set the hierarchy right. But the girls I had did like to cook for me to show me their affection.

Post: #21

Move to Asia. Hire a maid.

Post: #22

I used to eat out just to get out in the world and not stay in so much. I enjoy good food as well. Lately I have been trying to be better, eat healthier by meal prepping. I bought the plastic containers and cook some cooked protein and some veggies. I don't try to delude myself into cooking elaborate meals, it takes too long, I waste too much and food sits too long. Steak or chicken breast or meatballs. Side of steamed broccoli, cauliflower. Fill that in with a bulletproof coffee or nutriblast for breakfast.

Post: #23

Cooking is an important and essential skill, especially if you want to take care of yourself. I'll second the notion that "cooking is to important to be left to a woman". If you've ever lived alone, well.... you gotta eat something right, might as well make it taste good and be cheap+nutritious. If you're working out and watching your calories, it's also a good way to ensure you eat the proper amount.

While I like the process of cooking a meal itself, I hate the TIME it takes to actually clean, cut up and cook something (and the cleanup). Some people really enjoy the whole process, I and most other people just enjoy the result of it. So that's why I usually I cook in bulk, especially using a slowcooker where it's a fling stuff in and forget kind of affair that will usually leave me meals for 4 days. Then I pre-chop and pack up in containers some veggies that can be prechopped like zucchinis, celery etc. so I can create fresh and varied salads in less than a minute to go with the main meal.

When I first started out, I actually deal have to cook a fresh meal almost daily, sometimes every second day. It drove me crazy, cause it's a HUGE time sink. People only stick with something that is easy and comfortable to do. So bulk cooking is the way to go if you cook for yourself: you only have that big time sink ONCE in 4-5 days. That's acceptable to me.